Downhole Fluid Sampler

Picture Courtesy of the Petroleum Engineering Department

at the Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO USA

Fluid Sampling
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The Positive Displacement Sampler PDS provides representative
downhole fluid samples which can be transferred to sample bottles
and send to a laboratory for PVT analysis. The One Phase™ Sampler
OPS maintains the sample in single phase throughout the entire
operation.
The Design

High quality fluid samples provide data vital to the economic and technical evaluation of the reservoir.
The LEUTERT Positive Displacement Sampler provides clients with such representative samples of
well fluids all over the world. Collected fluid may be transferred on location to sample bottles. A
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modified version of the PDS , the One Phase™ Sampler OPS, allows the sample to be pressurized
above reservoir pressure after it has been taken from the reservoir. This compensates any temperature
induced pressure drop (e.g. as the sample is returned to surface) and maintains the sample in single
phase.

The main features of the LEUTERT downhole sampling system are:

• Shortest sampler of its kind available in the market
• Confirmed sample volume (600 cm³)
• No risk of contamination prior to or after sampling
• Maintaining the sample in single phase
• Short redress time due to minimum seals and cross over nipples
• Adjustable sampling duration
• Ability to validate sample in sample chamber
• Positive displacement operation which eliminates the necessity to use mercury during transfer

The Bottom Hole Sampler

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While using the standard PDS sampler samples will efficiently be restored to original sub surface
conditions by heating if the fluid has a low heavy component content. However, when fluid contains
asphaltenes and paraffins in a colloidal dispersion state, and when these products have been
segregated, it is very difficult to reintegrate them into the fluid. In such case, the properties of the
fluid on which the thermodynamic measures are taken in the laboratory do not any longer exactly
correspond to those of the fluid in the deposit. Therefore, these sample must remain in monophasic
condition during the complete sampling process.

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For this purpose, LEUTERT has designed a modified version of the PDS . The One Phase™ Sampler
OPS keeps the fluid in a monophasic state. This is achieved by adding a second volume chamber
containing a pressurized gas whose critical temperature is lower than the lowest temperature possible
during the handling of the sample. This pressurized gas is allowed to act on the sample via a floating
piston, thus, compensating the volume changes caused by temperature changes, and keeping the
sample pressure well above the dew point or bubble point at all times.

Volume : 600 cm³

Max. operating pressure : 15,000 psi (1,035 bar)
Test pressure : 22,500 psi (1,550 bar)
Max. operating temperature : 360 °F (180 °C)
Diameter : 1 - 11/16” (43 mm)
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Length : PDS : 11.45 ft (3,491 mm); OPS: 15.2 ft (4,632 mm)
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Weight : PDS : 55 lbs (25 kg); OPS: 68 lbs (31 kg)
Material : Seamless stainless steel to NACE, bronze alloy

2 Downhole Fluid Sampler

Positive Displacement Sampler PDSshort

Clock

Trigger mechanism

Shuttle mechanism

Relief valve

Air chamber

Flow regulator

Prime port

Anti-premature
closing assembly

Sample chamber Traveling piston

O-ring protector
Transfer port
Guide pin
Needle valve
Safe lock

Fig. A Fig. B Fig. C

Fig. A – Primed-ready to take sample

Fig. B – Triggered-taking sample Well fluid
Fig. C – Sample chamber filled and locked closed Priming fluid

Downhole Fluid Sampler 3

One Phase™ Sampler OPS

Clock

Trigger mechanism

Shuttle mechanism

Relief valve

Air chamber

Flow regulator
Prime port LEUTERT PDSshort

N2 chamber

OPS section
N2 prime port

LEUTERT PDSshort
Anti-premature
closing assembly

Sample chamber Traveling piston

O-ring protector
Transfer port
Guide pin
Needle valve
Safe lock

Fig. A Fig. B Fig. C

Fig. A – Primed-ready to take sample Well fluid

Fig. B – Triggered-taking sample Priming fluid
Fig. C – Sample chamber filled and locked closed Nitrogen

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The Transfer

After the sample is trapped, the tool is pulled back to surface. The sample chamber may be removed
from the tool assembly and installed into the transfer unit. The sample may now be transferred to a
piston sample bottle. The bottle has a capacity of 700 cm³ and is available with 10,000 psi or 15,000
psi working pressure.

The transfer unit is built to the same high quality as the sampler. Its rugged design of stainless steel is
equipped with the necessary high pressure hydraulics. The transfer pump is pneumatically operated to
enable a controlled transfer to be effected both automatically and quickly.

The sampling system operates with a complete range of sample bottles, available for surface or sub-
surface samples in various working pressures, such as the LEUTERT Type 600 Cylinder.

Max. operating pressure : 15,000 psi (1,035 bar)

Test pressure : 22,500 psi (1,550 bar)
Max. operating temperature : 300 °F (150 °C)
Dimensions : 18.5“ x 17“ x 13“ (470 mm x 430 mm x 330 mm)
Weight : 77 lbs (35 kg)
Material : Stainless steel

TRANSFER FLUID

psi
psi
WELL FLUID / OIL

SECONDARY MAIN GAUGE

GAUGE
psi

AIR
PRESSURE

V8

OUTLET
PUMP
AIR SUPPLY FOR PUMP INLET

SAMPLER CONSTANT
V1
TANK VOL. ASSY.

AIR OUTLET

V7
AIR INLET
CYLINDER

V2 V4 V5

Schematic of Field Transfer Unit Showing Sample Transfer into Sample Cylinder

Downhole Fluid Sampler 5

The Heating Jackets

During the retrieval of the OPS Sampler from the well, the sample will remain in Single Phase owing to
the Nitrogen over pressure within the sample chamber. Therefore the drop in temperature during pull
out of hole has no effect on the phase status of the sample.

However it may be desired to transfer the sample on surface at reservoir temperature. This can be
achieved by utilizing LEUTERT Heating Jackets for Sample Chamber and Sample Cylinder.

In addition, if the reservoir sample is very viscous or contains paraffins / asphaltenes, surface transfer
may be difficult. For the purpose of facilitating easy Transfer into the Sample Cylinder, LEUTERT
Heating Jackets may be used.

Temperature range : 68 °F to 360 °F (20 °C to 180 °C)

Dimensions without Controller
Heating Jacket for Sampler : 3.9“ x 3.9“ x 51.2“ (100 mm x 100 mm x 1300 mm)
Heating Jacket for Cylinder : 5.9“ x 5.9“ x 15.7“ (150 mm x 150 mm x 400 mm)
Weight
Heating Jacket for Sampler : 15.4 lbs (7 kg)
Heating Jacket for Cylinder : 25.3 lbs (11 kg)
Material : Stainless steel according to NACE MR-01-75
Power supply : 110 V AC to 240 V AC

Heating Jacket for Cylinder Heating Jacket for Sampler

The Operating Tools

To operate the positive displacement or one phase™ sampler a

lot more tools are required. Especially, in the field orderliness and
completeness will help saving time and money. Therefore, Leutert
has reduced the number of necessary operating tools by 10% and
designed a proper toolbox in which every tool got its own place.

Box with tools for samplers and cylinders

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The Tandem Firing Mechanism

A Tandem Firing Mechanism allows the operation of two samplers at the

same time. In this case, the lower sampler will be triggered immediately
after the upper sampler has taken its sample. Due to its function as a
knuckle joint in diverted wells, two samplers of 600 cm³ can be flexibly
combined to collect a total volume of 1,200 cm³.

Max. operating pressure : 15,000 psi (1,035 bar)

Test pressure : 22,500 psi (1,550 bar)
Max. operating temperature : 360 °F (180 °C)
Length : 15.5“ (394 mm)
Diameter : 1-11/16“ (43 mm)
Weight : 15.4 lbs (7 kg)
Material : Seamless stainless steel according
to NACE MR-01-75

The Nitrogen Booster Station

The LEUTERT Nitrogen Booster Station is used to compress nitrogen into the sample chambers of the
one phase™ samplers and cylinders to a pressure rate above the well pressure. The sample chambers
are pressurized across a piston with a nitrogen gas chamber. This compensates any temperature
induced pressure drop (e.g. as the sample is returned to surface).

The booster is driven by compressed air. The output pressure is controlled by an adjustable pressure
regulator with build-in filter/water separator. The cycle speed of the booster is controlled by a ball
valve. A build-in bleed valve is used to release the pressure. The supply pressure of the air driven
booster, the pressure in the bottle and the pressure at the high pressure side can be monitored by
liquid filled pressure gauges.

A storage compartment for the hoses is also provided.

Air drive pressure : 14 to 100 psi (1 to 7 bar)

Air input connection : ½” NPT female bulkhead
Air drive pressure gauge : 145 psi (10 bar) ø 63

N2 supply pressure : 1,200 to 4,350 psi (83 to 300 bar)

N2 supply pressure gauge : 5,800 psi (400 bar) ø 63
N2 output pressure : max. 18,270 psi (1,260 bar)
N2 output pressure gauge : 23,000 psi (1,600 bar) ø 100
N2 input connection : ¼” NPT female bulkhead
N2 output connection : 7/16”-20 UNF female bulkhead

Weight : 86 lbs (39 kg)

Dimensions (L x W x H) : 25.4” x 16.5” x 18” (645 mm x 420 mm x 460 mm)
Gauges : dual-scale psi, bar

Downhole Fluid Sampler 7

 MADE
IN
Subject to change without notice. Issued 01/2017 GERMANY

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